With its stone buildings and arboretum this 134-year-old college campus, 12 miles from the heart of Philadelphia, makes an exceptionally delightful summer venue for a vigorous tennis program. It has been in operation since 1980, long enough to have established a loyal following and a solid program. Unlike many campus programs, which offer only dormitory lodging, this one gives you the option of a Victorian bed-and-breakfast on campus or a condominium nearby. Its 3-, 4-, and 5-day programs bundle 5 hours of daily group instruction with one or more ½-hour private lessons, cafeteria meals, and your choice of lodging.

Overview

Founded in 1864 by the Society of Friends, Swarthmore has an enrollment of 1,300 during the academic year, but in summer a swarm of teenagers takes over, lured by a variety of sports camps. Amazingly they had little impact on the 10 of us adults enrolled in the tennis clinics—except that all the best flavors were gone at the cafeteria's ice cream bar by the time we were ready for dessert. Otherwise we had our own dorm, with an air-conditioned lounge containing a television and VCR, and first crack at the six outdoor tennis courts.

The camp I attended began with a ½-hour private lesson—one of three each of us would get. The 3-hour morning and 2-hour afternoon sessions that followed adopted a classic format familiar to most anyone who's attended camp. Over the course of the 3½ days we covered all the major strokes plus singles and doubles strategy. Initially the drills made few physical demands, but as the days passed they gradually became more intense and grueling, culminating in a session of drop-dead drills on the final morning.

Swarthmore's abundant staff, 5 pros for 10 campers, meant that at least one pro was always free to rove from court to court, pulling aside each camper to give individual attention to their strokes. Once the sessions ended, one of the pros almost always tried to organize some kind of activity for the evening, whether that was a get-acquainted cocktail party, a trip to the movies, a nightcrawl through the clubs on Philadephia's South Street or a visit to the Longwood Gardens on the du Pont estate. Most of us had come unattached—the exceptions were a lone couple and a woman whose daughter was enrolled in the simultaneous junior camp—but no one had to spend much time alone.

Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 212-879-0225

A 300-year-old Bender oak anchors one end of a complex of six hard courts laid out between two lines of pine trees. There are also indoor courts available in case of inclement weather.

Tennis Staff. This summer's tennis director is again Swarthmore women's tennis coach Jeremy Loomis. A former college player out of the University of Maryland, he went on to a world ranking in doubles on the pro tour and earned a gold medal in mixed doubles at the 13th Maccabiah Games. He then went on to a coaching career, first at Maryland, Duke University, and now Swarthmore. He holds a master's degrees in exercise science from Miami University and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Swarthmore Tennis Camps.

• "Excellent director and staff; great instructions; beautiful campus setting. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in immersing himself/herself in tennis for the duration. There are no planned activities, but there are excellent restaurants in the vicinity."—K.H., Adv. Int., July 2008

• "Don't come here if you are thinking you are going to have a value-added camp experience. This is purely a residential camp. Don't waste your time or your money staying over night. The housing is a 12-story off-campus residential apartment building housing mostly seniors. You may not see any of the other campers, and definitely not the staff, after dinner.
  The food in the cafeteria is limited and average. There are no activities planned in the evening, so pretty much from 4 p.m. on there is absolutely nothing planned for the campers.
  We who came to camp have all been disappointed. Instruction was lifeless and dull. We were not given a schedule of the week, but we found out that is because nothing else was planned besides morning and afternoon court play. If you are looking for a camp experience where you will mix with others, have fun diversions planned, and gatherings with staff after dinner, this is not the place to go."—M.N., Beg., July 2008

• "This was my first experience at a sports camp -- imagine that at age 50! I was probably the least advanced at the camp, but I never felt singled out. The counselors were very supportive and knowledgeable. They laughed easily too which was a big advantage for me since I managed to do some pretty unintentially stupid things!
  Food in the cafeteria was varied and good. The condo I stayed in was clean and comfortable -- nice to have airconditioning too! Swarthmore's campus was just lovely with old stone buildings and beautiful trees."—D.O., Low Int., July 2008

• "We have done this camp for several years and continue to send our son back because of the excellent instruction he has received with very good international instructors. Highly recomend."—I.P., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "I attended the Swathmore Tennis Camp 7/5/08 to 7/8/08 during the Advanced Player Sessions. This is more stroke/strategy enhancement rather than stroke mechanics. This was my first camp experience and I was going on the recommendation of some teammates.
  Overall I was extremely pleased with the camp. The facilities are well kept and the Swathmore College campus is beautiful-although I did get a bit lost trying to find the registration. The top strengths of the camp are the personnel and the scheduling. I arrived for my session on a Thursday afternoon then did morning and afternoon sessions for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Having the half-day on Thursday to meet everyone and get comfortable set an easygoing, no-pressure table.
  The instructors were friendly and there was (intentional or not) a lot of visual learning, which is something I prefer. They would always answer and encourage questions but it let people learn on their own terms.
  I also had 2 half-hour private lessons: one with the camp director and one with an instructor. One was videotaped. Those sessions were wholly our decision regarding content.
  The cost was reasonable but there is not a ton of on campus housing. The office contacts are accommodating and efficient. This is not a glamour camp with luxury amenities but a really welcoming place to focus on your game.
  The only disappointment was that I personally was grouped with the men’s courts all weekend, of which I concede they have little control. They grouped courts by playing level, which was fine, but I would have hoped to compete against a stronger women’s field."—R.W., Int., April 2008

• "I went with my partner and we had a great time at this camp. The staff was very helpful at showing us how to play doubles with my strategy, especially when we had the opportunity to play w/ the pros. One night after a bar-b-q, we watched tennis on tv and that was very enlightening, but fun at the same time!"—C.A., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "It's great for solo players or you and your doubles partner. Friendly, accessible and knowledgeable staff. Varied drills and activities. Definitely worth the money"—M.S., Int., April 2008

• "This year will be the eighth consecutive time attending swarthmore tennis camp, the staff has always been knowledgeable and friendly. The managers have been top shelf and the program very well balanced. We stay at a nearby hotel instead of the college dorms. Highly recommended."—T.P., Int., April 2008

• "Good tips from friendly and dedicated pros- includes private lessons. Very beautiful campus. Full package include college cafeteria meals, so no gourmet food - but great, fun, tennis.
  I last played there in 2007 & have returned for over 6 years - will do so again this year"—J.Z., Int., April 2008

• "Excellent program and knowledgable staff would be an excellent choice for someone serious about improving their tennis skills."—C.M., Beg., April 2008

• "I hit a lot of balls, staff is fun and knowledgable, i always learn something new and important to my game. I have attended the past seven years and always had a positive experience."—S.P., Int., April 2008

• "Advanced camp was fantastic - great personalized instruction, drills, attention to "campers' needs. Well organized"—J.F., Adv., April 2008

Other Recreation

And ... There are soccer and baseball fields, indoor basketball courts, an indoor Olympic-size pool, and walking trails, the last along Swarthmore Creek.

Children's Programs

Swarthmore runs simultaneous junior tennis programs for kids ages 9-18.

Lodging

Lodging options at Swarthmore are either an antique-filled bed-and-breakfast on campus called Ashton House or an air-conditioned condominium hotel called Strathaven right on the edge. Selected hotels in the area also offer discounts to campers.

Restaurants

Except on weekends, dining takes place in the student cafeteria, whose food is no better than it ever was though longer on salads and pastas. At least one night of each session the group typically opts out of that cafeteria meal for a restaurant in town.

See Also

The most obvious comparison is with the other college-campus programs:

• Nike Amherst Tennis Camp, Massachusetts
• Sweet Briar College/Van der Meer Tennis, Virginia

Otherwise, look at some of the other intensive camps:

• John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
• New England Tennis Holidays, New Hampshire
• Total Tennis, New York

And finally, compare it to the classic boot camps:

• Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Florida
• Saddlebrook Resort (Hopman), Florida

Travel Essentials

Seasons. The camp operates from mid June to early August.

Rates.

Reservations:

Swarthmore Tennis Camps
C/o Tennis Camps Ltd.
444 E. 82nd St., Suite 31-D
New York, NY 10028-5919
212-879-0225
Toll-free: 800-ACE-2442
Fax: 212-452-0816

Travel Instructions. The nearest airport is Philadelphia. You can also take Amtrak to the 30th Street Station and then catch a commuter train, which stops right at the edge of the Swarthmore campus.

General Tourist Information. Visit the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau web site or contact them at 1515 Market St., Suite 2020, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Phone: 215-636-1666 or 800-537-7676.

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